SinterCast Tracking Technologies

With our roots in precision measurement in the demanding foundry environment, SinterCast® has expanded its technical offering to include a suite of traceability solutions that enable foundries to track ladles, moulds, castings and even the performance of individual operators. These technologies provide the ability to measure every step of the foundry process, and to use these measurements to determine and implement corrective actions that resolve the root cause of defects and process bottlenecks.

The SinterCast Tracking Technologies can be applied to grey iron, ductile iron and CGI foundries, and also to other metallurgical facilities such as steel mills.

RFID Tags affixed to ladles

2D Optical matrix plates affixed to ladles

SinterCast Ladle Tracker®

RFID tags or optical 2D matrix plates are affixed to each ladle and RFID readers or optical cameras are located at key locations in the foundry to track the time and location of every ladle as it moves through the process. The technology automatically ensures that every ladle has successfully passed each step (temperature is correct, weight is correct, Mg-treatment was successful, time is within pre-set limits). If any step has not been successfully completed, the pouring car can be automatically blocked, without relying on behaviour of the operator. Ladle Tracker enables foundry managers to identify where (and why) any ladle falls out of the process, allowing corrective actions to be implemented to eliminate bottlenecks and to optimise process efficiency. All results are available for downloading, streaming to the foundry quality or ERP system, or viewing in real-time on any device that is connected to the internet, such as a mobile telephone.

SinterCast Cast Tracker™

Labelling of cores, combined with RFID or optical identification of each flask provides complete traceability of every casting. This traceability includes the date and time of core production (inception), shelf storage time, pouring (birth) and shake out. Together with the Ladle Tracker technology, Cast Tracker links the coremaking and moulding history to the liquid metal history, providing complete process traceability. For the foundry, Cast Tracker provides the detailed information (such as cast sequence) needed to determine robust correlations between casting defects and process parameters. For the OEM end-user, this novel capability provides complete traceability of every casting.

SinterCast Operator Tracker™

With registration tags allocated to the operators, Operator Tracker can identify and record which operator performed any task, allowing foundry managers to reward consistent performance, to provide additional training, and to promote and measure efficiency competitions between shift teams. The Operator Tracker technology can also be used to set and quantitatively measure KPI’s for individual operators. Operator Tracker brings the traceability and accountability that most OEMs have already implemented to the foundry environment.

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SinterCast will focus on providing process control technology, know-how and technical support for the reliable high volume production of Compacted Graphite Iron. SinterCast will also develop and promote novel technologies beyond the core CGI market, including tracking and traceability solutions and other precision measurement products that bring enhanced control and profitability to the foundry industry.

These focused activities will provide long-term benefits for foundries, end-users, shareholders, and society.